Windows 7: Not enough room to create system image-but there is

But there is enough room....I am getting this message

" There is not enough disk space to create the volume shadow copy on storage location. Make sure that for all volume to be backup up, the minimum disk space required for shadow copy creation is available. this applies to both the backup storage destination and volume included in the backup. Minimum requirement for Volumes less than 500 megabytes, the minimum is 50 megabyte of free space. for volumes more than 500 megabytes, the minimum is 320 megabytes of free space. Recommended at least 1 gigabytes free of disk space on each volumes if volumes size is more than 1 gigabytes (0x80780119)"

I get this even when I am trying to back up to a drive with over 130GB free and the wizard tells me the image may take up to 25GB. I have had no problems before, I have done it successfully, the only difference I can think of is I installed BitDefender.



I have done some Googling and found this

Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit backup failed (0x80780119)

the first response is a bit over my head and as it used to work I thought it might not apply....

The impression I get from reading the other responses is that the 100mb system reserved might be too full so I followed Davi Nigro's post to clear some space in the 100mb system reserved but it didn't help.

Clearly there is enough space in the drive I am backing up to but I am still getting the error message, I really am starting to blame BitDefender for this.

Can anyone help please?

Actually there is only 38mb free of the 100mb system reserved so I am thinking this is the problem, deleting the journal (Davi Nigro's suggestion) still leaves only 38mb free.

I have had a quick look with "Partition Wizard" and it won't let me extend the system reserved but it seems like it might let me shrink the "C" drive leaving the unallocated space at the beginning of the drive..so I am thinking it might then let me extend the system reserved?

I am a bit wary of trying this especially as I haven't got a system image! I deleted the old one before attempting to make the new one.

After reading a similar thread on this forum Why is W7 Saying Not Enough Backup Space?

Lexie164 gave this link How to fix Error code 0x81000033 when using Windows 7’s Backup and Restore and it is a guide for doing exactly what I was thinking of doing. I will probably try it.

It could be that BitDefender has caused this Bd 2011 Stops Full Image Backup From Completeing Win 7 64 - BitDefender Forum that guy seems to think so, or it could just be a coincidence with the timing of me installing it but whatever it is the system reserved at 100mb seems to be causing problems for quite a few people trying to do a system image.

I had the same problem when my system reserved partition for some reason was under 50mb. A while later, space was freed up and the backup worked just fine.

Mine hasn't done so yet, even if it does I can't trust it not to do it again. I want to blame BitDefender but examples like yours show it can happen anyway.
I have created a backup with the 30 day trial of Acronis (nice piece of software) and will try Partition Wizard for increasing the system reserved partition size soon. If that works I will mark this as "solved".

The system reserved has to have a minimum of 40MB of free space for Windows system Image to work. It is believed that some antivirus programs and imaging programs build files in the system reserved. Acronis does and will also by default take over Windows Backup. There is an option in Acronis to reverse the taking over of windows backup.. I had this issue and researched it for quite a while. Because of that issue I do not have a system reserved and have had no problems since. Microsoft has been aware of this issue for several years but has not provided a solution.

I just switched to a 3rd party utility and my issues went away. Still got the 100MB reserved partition, but it hasn't been a problem since.

And I have 38mb, lol. It was BitDefender adding stuff then, and the link I gave to their forum shows they don't care and just blame Microsoft (partly correctly) - and Microsoft aren't bothered about fixing the issue!

So, you just don't install the "system reserved" when you install Windows? Next time I will either do that or set it to a larger size.

I am also a bit annoyed that Acronis takes over from Windows which makes it an issue if you un-install it, as I will be doing. I am using the trial version and wish I had just used Macrium instead.

Marked as "solved" as we know what the problem is. Whether it was BitDefender or not the problem is not enough free space in the system reserved.

There is an option to undo the part where Acronis takes over windows. I would find it and reverse it before uninstalling. There is a supposed fix on acronis' site. but it didn't work for me. You will have to reinstall to get rid of system reserved. It just places the boot files on C drive. there is a good tutorial on how to reinstall, and gives the option in it to have a system reserved or not.